Chapter 4

Nova Venus?

Melody smiled as she rode the bus home with Rei and Mina on Monday. 'I can't believe all that's happened to me in the past week. I've been involved with two monster wait! Make that three monster attacks and I'm living with four of my students. Life sure can be strange at times.' Laughing at her thoughts, Melody waited for Mina and Rei to get off the bus. Walking down the steps, Melody felt someone push her from behind. Trying to keep her balance, Melody grabbed the nearest thing to steady herself.

Gasping, Melody felt herself go red as she realized that she'd gabbed the arm of the man beside her! "Gomen! I'm so sorry!" Melody quickly let go of the man's arm as she regained her balance. Blushing to the roots of her hair, Melody thought, 'He's the cutest guy I've ever seen! Hey, and he's the guy from the restaurant. I wonder if he lives near here.'

"It's quiet alright miss. I don't think I'm any worse for wear, in fact I think I'm better. I just met a beautiful girl because of someone's bad manners."

Glaring at the man behind them, Chris quickly made sure that the man apologized and left. Blushing again, Melody accepted the man's apology and walked off the bus. After getting off the bus, Chris followed Melody to meet her friends. "Here you are miss."

"Thank you very much for your help...?"

"Oh, my name is Chris. Chris Holman, to be precise."

'Chris...I like that name but why does it sound familiar?' "Thanks Chris. My name is Melody and these are my friends Mina and Rei."

"It's nice to meet you Melody, and you too Mina and Rei. If you ladies will please excuse me, I have to get going. Maybe we'll meet again someday. If that happens, ice cream on me, okay?" Bowing before the three girls, Chris quickly walked away.

Bowing as Chris took his leave, Melody knew that Rei and Mina were dying to ask her for details. "I only know that his name is Chris!" Rushing away from them, Melody laughed as they gasped and raced after her. 'This could turn out to be fun after all.'

Lita sighed as Melody, Rei, and Mina all raced into the apartment breathless. "Well, it's nice to see you all having fun. How did your day go?"

"Oh Lita it was great! After school, we all met up in the park and Melody let us watch her ice skating practice! She's better than we thought she was, even she doesn't know how good she is! Then we all went and spent the day at the park. OH! On the way home, Melody met this really cute guy who wants to take us out for ice cream."

Laughing at the pained look on Melody's face, Lita said, "Are you sure Melody wants you two to go with her? What if she likes this guy and wants to have a personal date with him?" Laughing at Melody's shocked expression, Lita walked into the kitchen and said, "Oh, dinner's ready. I thought we'd wait on Ami but she called and said she'd eat in town. She's got a really late class to go to tonight so lets eat!" Sitting down at the table, Lita and the others quickly ate the fried chicken and rice dinner that Lita had made.

"Lita! I don't know what I'd do without your cooking! This is excellent!" Melody had finally gotten her blush under control and laughed at herself. "I'd actually love it if you would all come with me for ice cream, IF we see Chris again."

Laughing, the four girls spent the night finishing their homework and then hitting the sac. Melody sighed as she went to sleep that night. 'I wonder if I'll see Chris again someday...'

Waking up earlier than usual, Melody smiled as she crept into the kitchen and began to cook breakfast for the girls. 'Lita will be so happy.' Making her specialty, Melody frowned as Amy walked into the living room looking like she hadn't slept very well that night. Walking into the living room, she asked, "Ami...are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine thank you. I just stayed up too late with that class last night. It wasn't over until past midnight." Grinning, Ami said, "I'm going to take a quick shower.."

"Okay Ami..." Watching her friend walk away, Melody noticed something was different about her until Lita screamed from her room. Rushing into the kitchen, Lita said, "Oh no! We're going to be late because I over slept...Huh?" Melody laughed as Lita looked at all the food that Melody had ready and waiting for her friends. Laughing she said, "Don't worry Lita. I was up early today so I cooked for you."

Lita grinned sheepishly at Melody and said, "Well, if it tastes as good as it looks, which I'm sure it will, then I may be out of a job." Going into the second bathroom, Lita called, "I'll be out in five!"

Smiling, Melody went and got Rei and Mina up and the three of them set the table. Melody smiled as Ami got out of her shower and came to sit at the table. 'She still looks tired..and something else..oh well.' Worried about Ami, Melody decided to give them all a break today.

The class loved the idea of no homework that night and laughed as they left the school. Ami smiled at Melody as they waited for Rei and Mina to get done grabbing their books and said, "Thanks for not giving us homework tonight Melody. I don't think I'll be able to stay awake for my class as it is..."

Shocked, Melody asked, "Your going again? Tonight?"

"I'm afraid I have to. But its only for tonight. This is our last class and we have a big exam. I hoped I studied enough..do you think 5 hours a day was enough?"

Blanching, Melody said, "Yes, I think that's enough Ami.." Smiling as Rei and Mina reached them, she asked, "So..you two coming to practice again?"

"You bet! I wonder if Sam will remember me?..Besides, if you run into Chris again, I want some ice cream!"

"Mina!..Well, I want to see you and Chris again too Melody. You two would make a great couple with his height and your..don't take this the wrong way, but your beauty. Besides he's a hunk and if you don't grab him..I will!" Laughing, Rei turned to see that Ami was already gone. "Hey..where'd Ami go?"

"Oh, she had that class again. Its her last one though..Can you guys believe she thought five hours of studying a day wasn't enough?" Laughing the three girls headed towards the ice rink...

Ami sighed as she sank into her chair at the University. 'Thank goodness this is my last class. I just feel like all my energy is being sucked right out of me...' Straightening as the professor entered the room, Ami was shocked to see that he didn't carry anything with him.

"This will be your final exam. Now everyone clear off your desks!"

Not wanting to anger him, everyone quickly cleared off their desks and waited for further instruction.

Smiling at his weary students, he said, "Now your exam consists of this..close your eyes and stay awake. If you fall asleep you fail. Periodically I'll ask you a question and you must answer it in ten seconds or you miss that question. Now eyes closed!"

Ami wasn't to sure about this exam but she wasn't about to question her professor. Closing her eyes, she struggled to stay awake. After five minutes, she heard the snores and soft sighes of her classmates falling asleep. Startled, Ami jumped when her professor touched her shoulder. Suddenly, she felt as if all her energy were being sucked out of her..opening her eyes, Ami saw that her professor was a monster! Falling to the desk, totally exhausted, she opened her communicator and said, "Rei..Mina..help..." Then she too fell asleep on her desk.

Rei was so excited! Melody had her first amateur competition in two months and she was ready..at least in her eyes. "Melody, I don't understand why you say that was the worst practice you've had in months. Your program was flawless..." Looking at her friend, Rei wondered if Mina had caught on that her communicator was beeping.

"I didn't feel the music. Its almost like I'm skating to the wrong song. That's a skaters worst nightmare! And my program wasn't flawless.." Blushing, Melody said, "Hey..do you guys here that bee..hey, it stopped." Shrugging her shoulders, Melody said, "Oh well..Hey lets go see Ami. I'm sure she could use our support right now." Glancing at her watch, she said, "If we hurry we can get there before she gets out for her break." Rei and Mina exchanged grateful looks and rushed off with Melody towards the University.

Shivering as they entered the University ten minutes later, Melody said softly, "Does this place seem..cold to you guys?" Seeing their nods, Melody walked to Ami's room, which she'd only seen once, and gasped. Inside was a hideous monster and it was sucking the energy out of the students. "Rei..Mina...what's going on?" Without thinking, she rushed into the room and yelled, "Ami!!"

Turning at the sound of a new voice, the monster smirked at the small girl running towards him. Holding out a hairy hand, he sent two balls of energy at the girl. One was black and meant to knock her out, the other red to suck her energy.

Mina softly cursed as Melody dashed into the room. Softly she wispered, "Venus..Crystal..Power!" Quickly transforming, Sailor Venus ran in front of Melody and took the blast meant for her. But instead of being sucked dry of energy..she simply glowed orange.

Melody didn't know what to think about these Sailor Scouts but they seemed to think highly of her. Tears streaming down her face, Melody crawled to Ami and grabed her hand as the blonde haired sailor continued to glow orange. Feeling her weakness, Melody closed her eyes and prayed for strength for her friend, not knowing that once again she was also glowing!

*****

Mina sighed as she sank deeper into the warm orange glow around her. 'I'm so glad that Melody is okay and that Rei is there to help Ami. I just wish it didn't have to end this way...' Suddenly a soft gentle voice filled her mind and said, "Brave soldier of Venus, you have protected my daughter well thus far. She wishes to give you a gift in return for your protection."

Turning her head to the left, Mina saw a figure all in lilac floating about ten yards from her. But the light was so bright behind the figure, she couldn't see anything but her outline.

Listening, Mina thought she heard a familiar voice say, "Sailor Venus, you are the guardian of light. Yours is a light that can peirce the deepest darkness. Take this crystal as a token of the light you bring to my life. May it always be a light for you when darkness surounds you."

Slowly the girl raised her hands to the sky and sent Mina a small round crystal. Glancing down, Mina saw that it was almost a copy of Rei's crystal, only her's was light orange with a silver fairy inside it. Looking at the girl as she faded back into reality, Mina said, "Thank you! I hope I will always be worthy...."

******

Ami felt a presence in her head as she slept. "Wake up, guardian of ice! You are needed to save your friend!" Slowly, Ami opened her eyes to see Mina in her sailor uniform dropping to the ground and Melody out on the ground beside her with a deathgrip on her right hand.

Sailor Mars was having problems with the hairy yoma, and Ami knew what she had to do. Letting Melody's hand go, she quickly wispered, "Mercury...Crystal...Power!" Transforming in the blink of an eye, Sailor Mercury started towards Sailor Mars when she heard a muffled moan come from behind her.

Turning swiftly, she cried out as she saw a tall dark woman all in black picking Melody up off the floor. Seeing this, Sailor Mercury was reminded of Serena's leaving and something inside her snapped! Rushing the woman, Mercury cried, " Temple of Ice.....Shatter!" Not caring about the millions of ice particles that were heading towards the black figured woman, Mercury grabbed Melody from the startled woman's grasp and took her to a nearby window.

Wondering what she could do to keep Melody safe, Mercury jumped when a familiar voice said, "I'll take her Ami. You go help your friends. We'll be on the roof when your done. Meet us there! " Not waiting for her okay, the man in the gray tuxedo took Melody in his arms very tenderly and flew out the window up to the rooftop.

Sighing, Mercury knew she was going to have to find out who this masked helper was. Turning back to help Sailor Mars and Sailor Venus, Sailor Mercury found that the moster was already dead and the black woman long gone from the scene. Softly she said to the other two, "We need to de-henshin and get to the roof. The same guy in the gray tuxedo just took Melody to safety on the rooftop. If she's awake we need to go get her. It's okay, he already knows our names."

************

Sailor Venus opened her eyes to see that she was on the floor, Rei was in trouble, Ami was up and running now and was going to get Melody from the black figured woman. Feeling something hard in her hand, she looked down to see the small crystal in her hand and quickly said, "Light Fairy Power!"

Immediatelly, Mina was surrounded by a yellow cloud and a wind tore off her old fuku as a light silver rain fell on her. Her orange heels vanished and silver shoes took their place as her new fuku took shape on her body. Her shirt was now silver and her skirt was light orange and her front bow was light orange and her back bow was silver and went to her ankles. In the center of her front bow as a star pendent and in the center of the star was her fairy crystal. She wore no gloves and her hair was now hanging freely down her back except for two strands which were braided and tied together in the back forming a type of hair crown around her head. Her earings were two light orange stars and her tiara was a copy of Nova Sailor Mars' except her teardrop jewle was a light orange. Stepping out of the cloud with in soft shimmer of light, Nova Sailor Venus was ready to do battle!

Seeing the creature was hiding in the darkest shadows of the classroom, Nova Sailor Venus said, "Ha! Silly monsters should know when to stay at home. In the name of Venus I will punish you, so get a haircut!"

Howling in fury, the black hairy monster took three strides towards Nova Venus when he suddenly shrank back. Softly, Venus wispered, "Fairy Night Light!" Softly, then more brightly, her star pendant began to glow. The beam of light was centered on the monster as it slowly began to burn into ashes. Right before it fell into dust, it said two words, "Hope....Awake!" Then in a blast of cold air, he desentigrated. Turning towards Mercury, Mars, and Venus nodded and the three of them quickly de-henshined and headed for the roof.

Ami was lost in thought as she walked up the stairs. 'Why have only those two been given power-ups? I don't understand this...who is helping them and why?' Rei and Mina didn't notice Ami's silence as they were both dicussing their experiences with the strang girl in the light and their new missions.

As they slowly walked up the final flight of stairs, the three girls heard the voices of five different men on the rooftop.

"I don't understand why you had to interfear at all!"

"Why did you have to stick your nose in their buisness?"

"Why not just wait until tonight and grab the..."

"SHHHHHHH!""

Suddenly, the door to the roof flew open and Ami, Rei, and Mina fell out into the twilight of the night. Blinking, the three girls saw that they were the same five men they'd seen the first night Melody had been in a yoma attack. "Who are you and what do you want?! Why did you help us protect Melody?" Ami cried!

Smiling softly down at the still slumbering girl in his arms, the leader-or so he seemed to be- said just as softly, "We are helping you protect her because she is special." Looking up at Ami, he continued in a harder voice, "Who are we? Well, I am Nova Knight. These are my friends Cloud Knight, Light Knight, Storm Knight, and Earth Knight. What we want is to hold our mission dear to us and complete it without failing the person who sent us. Answer all your questions?"

Rei and Mina nodded their heads in agreement and watched as Melody began to stir in the Knights arms. "Please you must tell us...why are we being powered up? and who is doing the powering up?" Ashamed to admit that they had abandoned their mission five years ago, Rei blushed as she tried to get the knights to let Melody go. "I'm....are we getting a second chance at a mission?" Mina couldn't stop the tears comming to her eyes as she thought about Serena and what they had done to her.

Seeing the hope in the two girls eyes, Nova Knight sighed and said, "You are getting your second chance. But only those who she deems worthy will be powered up. The Chancelor is very picky about earning trust. It seems you two have passed the test. Don't take that lightly."

Looking down into Melody's beautiful pink eyes, Nova Knight softly kissed her head and said so softly that only she heard, "We'll be together soon again, Princess. Until then take heart..you've found two loyal friends and maybe...a third." Glancing at Ami, Nova Knight set Melody gently upon her feet and flew away from the rooftop with his four friends, just as the paramedics arrived and Melody fainted on the rooftop.